Charlie Harris says one thing that stuck out in his mind in the aftermath of him sustaining an horrific injury while playing for Bristol City was that the referee never gave a free-kick for the tackle.

The young defender – who signed professional terms last year with the Robins - suffered a double leg fracture in an under-23 development game against Sheffield United on Monday and will hopefully be discharged from Southmead Hospital before the weekend.

Speaking to the Bristol Post, Harris - who has received calls from the likes of Lee Johnson, Wade Elliott and Joe Bryan since the incident - has spoken openly after sustaining the injury and jokingly said he’s surprised a foul was never given for the challenge on him.

Charlie Harris in action for the Bristol City 23s side earlier this season.

“I remember the tackle and the referee didn’t give a free-kick, the 18-year-olds said. “I remember taking a touch, planting my right leg – I didn’t really see the tackle coming - and someone slid in directly in the middle of my shin.

“The word I will be using to tell everyone about it is that I felt it fold in on itself. The physio came over straight away and I said it’s snapped.

“There wasn’t that much initial pain – the adrenaline had kicked in. I guess I was in shock an even though it was a warm day, I couldn’t stop shivering.

“The ambulance took around 40 minutes to get there – but after 20 minutes on the side it started to get really painful.”

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Harris, who has been at City since the age of 12, underwent surgery on Wednesday after being transferred from Northern General and has been given a wide timescale for his recovery – that being four to six months.

The defender has already undergone some physiotherapy but was quite happy to give a more detailed overview.

“It’s bandaged up at the moment just to stop it from bleeding basically,” added Harris. “I’ve now got to have the stitches taken out at some point. They’ve basically put a sort of nail in and screwed it all back together. Hopefully I can get back as soon as possible.

"In terms of actual football time, I shouldn’t miss too much depending on when I come back. I might be back running ahead of the first competitive game next season – that’s the goal.”

Charlie Harris in action last season.

Harris added: “I’ve been quite blessed with injuries so far in my career. I’ve never been out for longer than two weeks. That’s a positive.”

“I’m just looking forward to coming back. Yes, the confidence will be a bit low but I won’t shy away – I will just come flying straight back.

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Fans, players and management have all expressed their support to Harris – who suffered the injury just a few days after Everton’s Seamus Coleman shattered his tibia and fibula playing for his country – and the teenager is hugely thankful for that.

“Joe Bryan rung me a few nights ago, Lee Johnson rung me yesterday [Thursday] and even Wade Elliot has given me a call,” said Harris.

“I just want to say thanks for all the support – I’m really grateful.”